Golden-Crisp Ruth Chris Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe Delight

Weeknight dinners demand something special, and this ruth chris sweet potato casserole delivers pure comfort with unexpected elegance.

Southern kitchens have long cherished this decadent side dish that blends creamy potatoes with a crunchy pecan topping.

The recipe captures the essence of home-cooked warmth and restaurant-quality indulgence.

Sweet potatoes shine as the star ingredient, promising rich, velvety textures that melt in your mouth.

Layers of brown sugar and butter create a golden, caramelized crown that transforms a simple vegetable into a celebration of flavor.

Pecans add a delightful crunch, elevating each spoonful with nutty complexity.

This casserole will be the highlight of your next family gathering, beckoning everyone to the table with its irresistible aroma.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 35 minutes

Total Time: 55 minutes

Calories: 410 kcal

Servings: 6

Sweet Potato Casserole Ingredient Highlights

• Sweet Potatoes: Creamy and nutrient-packed, perfect for creating a velvety foundation with rich orange color and natural sweetness.
• Butter: Adds luxurious richness and helps create smooth, melt-in-your-mouth texture.
• Granulated Sugar: Enhances natural sweetness and balances the earthy potato flavor.
• Heavy Cream: Provides silky consistency and adds decadent creaminess.
• Eggs: Act as binding agent, creating structure and helping the casserole set perfectly.
• Vanilla Extract: Brings warm, aromatic depth and complements the sweet potato's natural flavor.
• Salt: Highlights and amplifies all other ingredients' taste profiles.

• Pecans: Delivers delightful crunch and nutty warmth, creating textural contrast.
• Brown Sugar: Contributes caramel-like sweetness and helps topping caramelize beautifully.
• Flour: Helps bind streusel ingredients and creates crispy, crumbly texture.
• Melted Butter: Unifies streusel components and adds rich, golden-brown color.

• Baking Dish: Ensures even cooking and perfect presentation of the casserole.

Tools for That Signature Ruth Chris Style

• Large mixing bowl: Essential for combining sweet potato base ingredients smoothly.
• Medium bowl: Perfect for mixing pecan streusel topping.
• 9×13-inch baking dish: Ideal for spreading and baking the casserole evenly.
• Measuring cups and spoons: Critical for accurate ingredient measurements.
• Whisk or spatula: Great for mixing ingredients thoroughly.
• Oven: Necessary for baking the casserole to golden perfection.
• Cutting board: Helpful for chopping pecans if needed.
• Sharp knife: Used for precise pecan chopping.

How to Make Sweet Potato Casserole Silky and Sweet

• Warm Up The Oven Preheat to 350°F and lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish, creating the perfect cozy environment for your sweet potato masterpiece.
• Whip Together Sweet Potato Blend mashed sweet potatoes with melted butter, sugar, cream, eggs, vanilla, and a pinch of salt until silky smooth, transforming humble ingredients into a creamy dream.
• Create Crunchy Pecan Topping Mix chopped pecans with brown sugar, flour, and melted butter to craft a crispy, irresistible streusel that'll make taste buds dance.
• Layer And Bake Spread the velvety sweet potato mixture into the prepared dish, then generously shower the pecan streusel across the top. Slide into the oven and bake for 30-35 minutes until the topping turns golden and the edges bubble with deliciousness.
• Serve And Savor Allow the casserole to rest briefly, then present this crowd-pleasing side dish that'll have everyone asking for seconds. Perfect alongside roasted meats or as a star of your holiday spread.

Flavor Tweaks That Add Extra Comfort

• Add a sprinkle of ground cinnamon or nutmeg to the sweet potato base for extra warmth and depth of flavor.
• Prepare the entire casserole up to 24 hours in advance and refrigerate, then bake when ready to serve – perfect for holiday meal planning.
• Substitute coconut cream for heavy cream and use dairy-free butter alternative to make this recipe suitable for lactose-intolerant guests.
• For those with nut allergies, replace pecans with rolled oats or pumpkin seeds to maintain the delicious crunchy topping texture.
• Reduce granulated sugar by half and use monk fruit sweetener or stevia for a more diabetic-friendly version without compromising taste.

Serve This Side Dish at Big Family Dinners

• Festive Family Feast Companion: Pair this sweet potato casserole with roasted turkey or honey-glazed ham for a traditional holiday meal.
• Elegant Dessert Alternative: Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream to transform it into a decadent dessert option.
• Brunch Showstopper: Present alongside crispy bacon, scrambled eggs, and freshly baked buttermilk biscuits for a memorable weekend breakfast spread that will impress guests.
• Gourmet Make-Ahead: Prepare the casserole a day in advance, refrigerate, and bake just before serving to save time and enhance flavor development during resting period.

Keep It Warm and Wonderful for Leftovers

• Prepare the entire casserole up to 2 days before serving, cover tightly with aluminum foil, and refrigerate. Remove from refrigerator 30 minutes before baking to reach room temperature.
• Divide leftovers into individual serving containers for quick reheating and grab-and-go lunch options during the week.
• Wrap the unbaked casserole securely in plastic wrap and aluminum foil. Store frozen for up to 3 weeks. Thaw overnight in refrigerator before baking as directed.
• Warm individual portions in microwave for 1-2 minutes or reheat entire dish in 350F oven covered with foil for 15-20 minutes until heated through, maintaining the crispy pecan topping's texture.

FAQs

• Are the sweet potatoes boiled or baked before mashing?

The sweet potatoes should be boiled or roasted until tender, then mashed until smooth for the best texture and flavor.

• Can I use canned sweet potatoes instead of fresh?

Yes, canned sweet potatoes work well if drained and mashed thoroughly, though fresh sweet potatoes provide a more authentic flavor and texture.

• Is this recipe gluten-free?

The recipe is not naturally gluten-free due to the flour in the streusel topping. To make it gluten-free, substitute the all-purpose flour with gluten-free flour or almond flour.

• How do I know when the casserole is perfectly cooked?

The casserole is done when the edges are bubbling, the top is golden brown, and a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. The streusel should look crispy and slightly caramelized.

Crispy Ruth Chris Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe

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4.9 from 32 reviews

• Total Time: 55 minutes
• Yield: 7 1x

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Description

Ruth Chris Sweet Potato Casserole brings Southern comfort to your holiday table with creamy mashed sweet potatoes topped by a crunchy pecan streusel. Diners will savor this rich, nostalgic side dish that perfectly balances sweet and nutty flavors.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 3 cups (about 4 large) sweet potatoes, cooked and mashed
• 2 large eggs, beaten
• ½ cup (120 ml/4 fl oz) heavy cream or milk
• ½ cup (100 g/3.5 oz) granulated sugar
• ½ cup (100 g/3.5 oz) brown sugar, packed
• ½ cup (115 g/4 oz) unsalted butter, melted
• ⅓ cup (75 g/2.6 oz) unsalted butter, melted
• ⅓ cup (42 g/1.5 oz) all-purpose flour
• 1 cup (120 g/4.2 oz) chopped pecans
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• ½ tsp salt

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Instructions

1. Preparation: Preheat oven to 350°F and spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray, ensuring complete coverage.
2. Sweet Potato Mixture: Puree boiled sweet potatoes with melted butter, granulated sugar, heavy cream, eggs, vanilla essence, and salt until achieving a smooth, homogeneous texture.
3. Assembly: Pour the sweet potato mixture into the prepared baking dish, leveling the surface with a spatula for an even layer.
4. Pecan Topping: Combine chopped pecans, brown sugar, and flour in a bowl, then drizzle with melted butter and mix until forming a crumbly consistency.
5. Topping Application: Evenly distribute the pecan streusel across the sweet potato base, covering the entire surface.
6. Baking: Bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes until the topping turns golden brown and the edges begin to bubble.
7. Finishing: Remove from oven and allow the casserole to rest briefly, enabling flavors to meld and temperature to stabilize before serving.

Notes

• Potato Perfection: Choose fresh, firm sweet potatoes with smooth skin for the best texture and flavor, avoiding any with soft spots or blemishes.
• Smooth Blending Technique: Whisk the sweet potato mixture thoroughly to eliminate lumps, creating a silky-smooth consistency that ensures a luxurious mouthfeel.
• Pecan Topping Trick: Toast pecans lightly before chopping to enhance their nutty flavor and add extra depth to the casserole’s topping.
• Temperature Control: Let the casserole rest for 10-15 minutes after baking to allow flavors to meld and make serving easier without losing its creamy texture.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 35 minutes
• Category: Dinner, Side Dish, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 7
• Calories: 405
• Sugar: 28 g
• Sodium: 118 mg
• Fat: 25 g
• Saturated Fat: 15 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 47 g
• Fiber: 3 g
• Protein: 5 g
• Cholesterol: 95 mg